“Why not?”
“Because if it’s Aaron, I don’t want you anywhere near him. You’ll embarrass me, I know it.”
Amanda scoffs. “Don’t be ridiculous.” She pushes off me, her hand palming my face for a brief second. “I’ll answer the door.” When she places one of her feet on the floor, I hold her in place.
“Oh no, you don’t. You’re not answering that door. Just be still, the person will go away.”
Knock, knock.
“You’re being rude,” Amanda says as she plows her elbow into my thigh, causing me to buckle over in pain. She frees herself from my grip and rushes to the door. Right before she opens it, she fluffs her hair. You’ve got to be kidding me.
I don’t even have to ask if it’s Aaron because that’s just my luck. Also, Amanda makes a low whistle sound when she opens the door.
“Amanda?” Aaron’s voice floats into my house.
“Aaron Walters, look . . . at . . . you.” I sit up just in time to see Amanda give him a very slow once-over. “You were right, Amelia, he has gotten sexier.”
What? Jesus!
I hop off the couch, limping ever so slightly from the dead leg Amanda gave me. “I didn’t say that.”
Amanda waves her hand. “It was in the realm of that. Come in, come in. We need to catch up.” Amanda wraps her hand around Aaron’s arm and pulls him into the house. When she passes me, she winks and squeezes his arm while mouthing, “He’s huge.”
I shut the door behind them and bang my head on it a few times before joining them in the living room. I knew Amanda’s visit was going to be interesting, but I didn’t expect she’d be so open to having Aaron around. What happened to my best friend? Doesn’t she remember the broken Amelia she held through many tears?
I glance at the empty margarita pitcher. Guess she’s been captured by tequila. This should be interesting.
“How are you, Aaron? Man, the last time I saw you was, hmm”—Amanda grips her chin as she thinks—“the night you broke up with our little Amelia over there. Remember I went to your house and punched you in the neck?”
Seeming a little frightened, Aaron glances at me, but I throw my hands up in defeat. He’s the one who came over here, so he can deal with Amanda.
“Uh, yeah. I remember the throat punch because it was fucking weird.”
I can still remember Amanda recounting her “revenge” to me that night . The minute she found out, she drove to his place and knocked on the door. When he answered, she didn’t say a word. She simply cocked back, punched him, then left. In her mind, it was the perfect remedy.
“Well, I’m not opposed to doing it again, so watch yourself,” she says sternly, holding her dainty fist up.
“I don’t plan on breaking any more hearts, so you can put that lethal weapon away.”
Smiling, Amanda pats his face. “That’s what I like to hear. Now tell me, Aaron, what are you doing these days?”
He glances in my direction and says, “Besides trying to win the heart of your best friend again?”
If there was ever a time to be able to take a real-life reaction and turn it into a GIF it would be right now. Mouth forming an O, her head turning slowly in my direction, Amanda gives me a surprised and ridiculous look. “Oh my, my, my. Heavy words right there.”
“Don’t worry, I’m settling for friends right now.” The words “right now” don’t escape me. “My friends and I started and own a construction company. We’re in charge of one of the new housing developments in Vestal.”
“An entrepreneur. Interesting. Seems like you’ve come a long way in three years.” She pokes his pec. “Especially in the old muscle department.”
He bows his head shyly. “That’ll happen when you fuck your life over, pushing away the only thing that ever mattered to you.”
“Ahh.” Amanda nods her head dramatically and cups her chin. “So you’re admitting that you were a dumbass three years ago?”
“Yes.”
“And you can agree that my friend Amelia over here was the best thing that ever happened to you.”
“By far,” he answers, his eyes trained on me, burning me up with their blue depths. What the hell is Amanda trying to do here?
“And that it’s your own damn fault she’s now in a committed and loving relationship with someone else?”
“Ouch.” He holds his chest. “That’s a blow.” Even though there is humor in his voice, I notice the tight set in his jaw.
“It’s the truth, so don’t think you can come in here and ruin what she has going for her. Don’t make her do something stupid because you decide to take your damn shirt off.”
Aaron’s lips turn up as he levels with me. “Told her about the almost kiss, huh?”
“What? No.”
“Yes,” Amanda says at the same time. “And you won’t be doing that again. Keep your hands to yourself. Don’t push her to do something that goes against everything she believes in. Amelia is not the cheating type.”
That quiets him. The humor in his features disappear, and his shoulders sag in defeat. He presses against his thighs and stands. Looking at us, he rubs the back of his neck and says, “Yeah, you’re right. I should get going.”
He gives me a sad smile and starts for the door but Amanda stops him before he can make it there. “Oh, stop being so sensitive and sit the eff down. God. That wasn’t an invitation to leave, just a warning not to fuck with my friend. We have some catching up to do, Walters, and you can’t escape me that quickly.”
***
“I want to hate you so bad, I really do.”
“But you can’t,” Aaron says with a cocky grin directed at Amanda.
She slaps the table. “Damn it, I can’t.”
We ordered pizza, made more margaritas, and moved our little gathering to the dining room table where we’re casually playing Rummikub—thank you, Mrs. Ferguson—eating Nirchi’s—naturally—and drinking.
It’s weird for me, hearing Amanda and Aaron reminisce, since all the stories they’re talking about obviously took place with me, but I can’t really be mad. Aaron wasn’t just my boyfriend. He was a son to my dad, a friend to Amanda, a big part of everyone’s lives. I wasn’t the only one he hurt. But now that I know why, I can’t help but wonder what it would be like if we were still together. He wants me back, so does that mean he still loves me? Does he still want me to be his forever?
I shake my head. It doesn’t matter. It shouldn’t matter. I’m in a different place in my life now. That chapter, the chapter where Aaron and I were happily together is closed.
When Aaron went to pick up the pizza for us, Amanda had a quick heart-to-heart with me. She told me she was mad at him, furious for breaking my heart, but understood his intention. She didn’t agree with them given how hurt I was, but she also said she can see the regret and hurt in his eyes. Instead of shunning him, she’s letting him know where her stance is on getting me back, and trying to enjoy her time catching up.
I thought that was fair, because I have the same feelings toward the situation.
Although . . . it almost seems like she has ulterior motives.